Dozens of British celebrities, including singer Paloma Faith and actor Juliet Stevenson, have signed an open letter urging the UK government to formally apologize for its actions in Palestine during the Mandate period between 1917 and 1948. The letter was released on May 15, Nakba Day, which commemorates the displacement of hundreds of thousands of Palestinians from their homes and land in 1948.
Celebrity Signatories and Legal Petition
The letter calls on British Prime Minister Keir Starmer to acknowledge what campaigners describe as the UK's "direct responsibility" for historic injustices in Palestine. Other signatories include comedian Alexei Sayle, actor Billy Howle, writer Robert Macfarlane, and businessman Dale Vince. Their appeal supports a 400-page legal petition submitted to the British government in September 2025 by the Britain Owes Palestine campaign. The petition was drafted by human rights lawyers Ben Emmerson and Danny Friedman, alongside academic researchers.
Allegations of International Law Violations
The petition argues that Britain violated international law during its administration of Palestine under the Mandate system in several ways, including denial of Arab self-determination and overseeing abuses such as arbitrary detentions, torture, and home demolitions. The campaign also criticizes Britain's role in issuing the 1917 Balfour Declaration, which expressed support for the establishment of a "national home for the Jewish people" in Palestine.
Munib Al-Masri, a Palestinian businessman and lead petitioner, said Britain "made promises it had no right to make and left behind a wound that has never healed." Vince, founder of green-energy company Ecotricity, said acknowledgment of Britain's historical role in Palestine was necessary for meaningful accountability.
Political Context and Potential Consequences
The letter argues that Starmer, a former human rights lawyer and ex-director of public prosecutions, is uniquely placed to address the issue, and says a formal apology could help restore the credibility of the UK in future peace efforts. The British government has until September to respond to the legal petition. Campaigners warn that failure to do so could lead to judicial review proceedings.
